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elp children welcome the new season with our list of recommended spring-related nonfiction books. The books

cover a range of topics; some deal explicitly with the spring season while others are focused on spring-associated ideas such as the life cycle of plants and animals, seeds and seed dispersal, and eggs. These books are filled with full-color photographs or beautiful illustrations, making them perfect for capturing the interest of children of all ages. To round out our list we have also included some fiction titles we think kids will enjoy.

Are You Ready for Spring, by Sheila Anderson. (Illus.; from the Lightning Bolt Books - Seasons Series.) Lerner, 2010. 32pp.

Are Your Ready for Spring explores those attributes we most often associate with spring. The book has a lot of kid appeal with its pictures and descriptions of mud puddles, rain, and flying kites. Changes in nature are subtly woven in with everyday experiences to provide a full overview of the season. The descriptions and explanations are scientifically accurate, and a diversity of ethnicity and climates is shown in the colorful pictures.

Dazzling Dragonflies: A Life Cycle Story, by Linda Glaser. (Illus. by Mia Posada.) Millbrook, 2008. 32pp.

Dragonflies are often a sign of spring and this book introduces young readers to them. Using illustrations and few words, the author takes readers through the entire life cycle of a dragonfly. Information on topics such as what dragonflies eat as nymphs and adults, how these voracious predators hunt, and what other creatures they are eaten by is also provided. The drawings are colorful and attractive.

An Egg Is Quiet, by Diana Hutts Aston. (Illus. by Sylvia Long.) Chronicle, 2006. 32pp.

The title of this book is also the first sentence of the story. It ends with a drawing of hatchlings of the "quiet" egg illustrated on the first page, accompanied by the text "an egg is noisy!” In between, some characteristics of eggs are noted, and adaptations, such as being speckled or "pointy," are briefly explained. The hand‑lettered text is richly garnished by over 100 ink and watercolor illustrations of eggs (and many of the adults that produce them) of a

H

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rather eclectic array of species, all identified by common names. This book was the winner of the 2007 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in the Children’s Science Picture Book category.

Eggs, by Marilyn Singer. (Illus. by Emma Stevenson.) Holiday House, 2008. 32pp.

This book immediately draws the reader in with its eye-catching, illustrated cover—and the contents do not disappoint. Full of excellent illustrations and wonderful facts, the book is packed with information on as many types of eggs that can be fit into 30 pages. A variety of egg-layers—birds, reptiles, insects, amphibians, fish, and even the platypus—are all discussed. The biology of eggs from fertilization to hatching is covered amidst some interesting oddities of nesting animals.

Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move, by Joann Early Macken. (Illus. by Pam Paparone.) Holiday House, 2008. 30pp.

Young children will enjoy reading this lavishly illustrated book with lots of colors and objects. Prereaders will enjoy having the book read to them. The author does not stray from the mission of providing numerous examples of seed dispersal and seed movement. There appear to be no factual errors. The book could be used in introducing concepts of seed germination, growth, and movement in basic science classes. The author discusses the movement of seeds around the world, but does not make a

distinction between cultivated seeds and invasive species.

From Bean to Bean Plan, by AnitaGaneri. (Illus.; from the How Living Things Grow Series.) Heinemann, 2006. 32pp.

From Seed to Apple.

From Seed to Sunflower.

The formats of these three well-illustrated and informative books are similar. First the reader is introduced to the title plant, and then a description of the fruit containing seeds is introduced, followed by a discussion of seed germination, growth and development of the vegetative body and flower formation, pollination, seed and fruit formation, and fruit and seed dispersal. All three texts conclude with succinct summaries of the plant’s life cycle, and labeled illustrations of the plant bodies and reproductive structures help the reader identify the component parts of the featured plants, should they have access to them.

From Little Acorns: A First Look at the Life Cycle of a Tree, by Sam Goodwin. (Illus. by Simone Abel; from the First Look: Science Series.) Picture Window Books, 2004. 32pp.

From Little Acorns is an excellent and entertaining resource for prekindergarten through first-grade students (especially emergent readers). Teachers can use this picture book to introduce concepts on change, cycles, growth, or seasons. The main character, an inquisitive young squirrel, keeps the story moving from acorn to tree. The mommy squirrel and the forest community do a fine job answering questions and adding information about the oak tree’s life cycle.

From Seed to Maple Tree: Following the Life Cycle, by Laura Purdie Salas. (Illus. by Jeff Yesh; from the Amazing Science: Life Cycles Series.) Picture Book Studio, 2008. 24pp.

Many books for children cover too many topics or include too much information in a single volume. Pleasantly, this book does neither! What the book does do is present a simple, straightforward description of a single chain of events centered on the life of a tree from seed to adult. With good pictures and easy-to-understand words, the author and illustrator have accomplished their goal.

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How Do You Know It’s Spring? by Ruth Owen. (Illus.) Bearport Publishing Co., Inc. 2012. 24 pp.

Part of a series of books on the four seasons, this book helps children answer the question, How do You Know It’s Spring? Readers see lots of baby animals and birds; and are introduced to some interesting aspects of animal parenting. Clock and calendar activities emphasize the longer warmer days. Almost each section in the table of contents could be used as a separate unit dealing with some aspect of the season: climate, calendar, animal behavior, plant life, etc. making it very useful in curriculum preparation and lesson planning for science.

It’s Our Garden: From Seeds to Harvest in a School Garden, by George Ancona. (Photos by George Ancona) Candlewick, 2013. 48 pp.

Writer/photographer Ancona shares his fascination with a school garden that serves as a learning laboratory near his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Over the course of a year, he photographed students, their friends, teachers, and families as they tended to the garden, from seed to harvest. In keeping with scientific traditions, the students featured in Ancona’s book make plans, act on them, observe the results, and keep records. Ancona's photographic essay is enhanced by the students' drawings of the plants and insects that keep the garden thriving, and the wildlife that finds a home there. Appropriate for elementary-school readers, the book may also inspire adults to help organize gardens for children's schools. This book was the winner of the 2014 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in the Children’s Picture Book category.

The Kid's Guide to Exploring Nature, by Brooklyn Botanic Garden Educators. (Edited by Sarah Schmidt.) Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2014. 120 pp.

This gorgeously illustrated guide calls on children to look closely at the world around them through 24 “adventures” that invite readers to explore the complex ecosystems of plants and animals in the woods, at the beach, and in a city park. Detailed, scientifically based drawings help young scientists identify hundreds of North American plants and animals, while dozens of fun projects include keeping a journal, conducting field experiments, and exploring nature with all five senses. The activities are organized by season and the book also includes

summaries of common careers, such as nature educator and field biologist. This book was the winner of the 2015 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in the Hands-on Science category.

Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard, by Annette LeBlanc Cate. Candlewick, 2013. 64 pp.

This engaging introduction to bird-watching encourages kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and really look around. Quirky, full-color illustrations portray dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including their color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types. Interactive and enjoyable tips in this book bring an age-old hobby to new life for the next generation of bird-watchers. Pointing out that unless we know what is usually around us, we will fail to notice when something is different, Cate does not simply discuss looking at birds—she also provides her readers with a solid introduction on how to observe their environment. This book was the winner of the 2014 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in the Hands-on Science category.

A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox, by Wenay A. Pfeffer. (Illus.; by Lindsay Bleck.) Dutton, 2008. 40 pp.

A New Beginning offers a refreshing breath of new life. Using colorful pictures and an entertaining narrative, it introduces us to spring and its customs in the Northern Hemisphere. But don’t be fooled by the vibrancy of this book: It is packed with facts about

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spring rituals from the earliest times to the present, and clearly explains the science behind spring

New Duck: My First Look at the Life Cycle of a Bird, by Pamela Hickman. (Illus.; by Heather Collins.) Kids Can Press, 1999. 20 pp.

This small book, copiously illustrated with charming watercolors, describes the life cycle of a mallard by using the nursery rhyme "This is the house that Jack built." The left side of each double page is a foldout. The right-hand page carries a general picture of the duck's habitat--a park lake--and the activities going on there involving mallards and their young in one way or another. The foldout (itself intriguing for young children) carries a running text on its outer surface that increases a line at a time with each page and tells the life story of a mallard--making use of a good repetitive device that small children love.

A New Frog: My First Look at the Life Cycle of an Amphibian, by Pamela Hickman. (Illus.; by Heather Collins.) Kids Can Press, 1999. 20 pp.

This volume in follows the frog's life cycle, using the nursery rhyme "This is the house that Jack built." The left side of each double page spread is a foldout, and the right-hand page carries a general picture of the pond environment--a close-up of pond life, the larger creatures found there, and, sometimes, the child in the story engaged in some activity. The intriguing

foldout carries a running text on its outer surface, increasing at a line per page, which tells the frog's life story--a good use of the repetition that small children enjoy. When the foldout is opened, it reveals further illustrations of pond creatures, facts about frogs, and a more detailed account of the frog's life cycle.

Plant a Pocket of Prairie, by Phyllis Root. (Illus. by Betsy Bowen).University of Minnesota, 2014. 40 pp.

This inspiring and exquisite book introduces children to the endangered prairie ecosystem and how we can help restore it. Phyllis Root and Betsy Bowen take young readers on a trip to one of Minnesota's important ecosystems—the prairie—teaching children how changes in one part of the system affect every other part. The book shows what happens when we work to restore the prairies, encouraging readers to “plant a pocket of prairie” in their own backyards. Ten pages of detailed and informative back matter provide information that can be shared by parents and teachers, and also extend the appeal of the book to upper elementary aged students and above.

Planting the Seed: A Guide to Gardening, by Suzanne Winckler. (Illus.) Lerner, 2002. 64 pp.

Planting the Seed: A Guide to Gardening provides very basic information about how to plant a garden. It is extremely thorough, and I believe that someone who has never done any planting will be successful if he or she follows the advice given in this book. The text covers most of the relevant details and methodically explains exactly how to plant a garden.

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This book’s emphasis on organic gardening practices makes it useful for children and families who want are interested in environment-friendly gardening.

A Seed Is Sleepy, by Diana Hutts Aston. (Illus. by Sylvia Long.) Chronicle, 2007. 40 pp.

This book is a richly illustrated and botanically accurate introduction to seeds and plant growth. Geared toward young children, the book does an excellent job of presenting the myriad plant types from around the world, without being overwhelming to young readers or listeners. Bright, colorful illustrations fill the pages, accurately depicting the many and varied types of seeds in existence.

Sprouting Seed Science Projects, by Ann Benbow and Coling Mably. (Illus. by Tom LaBaff.; from the Real Life Science Experiments Series.) Enslow, 2009. 48pp.

Sprouting Seed Science Projects is a well‑drawn how‑to book, both on seed germination itself and on the setup of some simple scientific experiments. Particularly appealing are Tom Labaff’s charming drawings of seed dispersal mechanisms (burrs on a sheep, squirrels burying nuts), but illustrations throughout the book somehow manage to give seeds a personality and charm of their own. The children in the illustrations look like they’re having fun with the experiments, and they look like children you’d want to meet. The text does a good job introducing scientific terms related to seed germination.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner. (Illus. by Christopher Silas Neal) Chronicle Books: 2015.

This lyrical story of the magical world of nature both above and below the ground takes the reader on a journey through nature's changing seasons. The reader joins a child and grandmother as they plan, prepare, and plant their garden through the first sprouts and blossoms, the harvest of both early and late season plants, as well as the frost and snow. From spreading compost and sprinkling seeds to playing in the spray of garden hose and picking plants late into the evening the reader is given the opportunity to feel the delight of working in the garden. The sensory world of the garden is depicted in rich, earthly illustrations of both above and below the ground. There is an appreciation for the contributions of the animals that live and grow within the garden's borders. The cycle of life is described through animals who are predators and those who are prey as well as through the enjoyment of the fruits of the garden.

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, 2001. 40 pp.

Enter a vibrant spring garden and witness the beautiful metamorphoses of butterflies in this masterful nature book. Ehlert’s trademark collages make this possibly the most beautiful book on the butterfly life cycle you will ever see. It is a perfect read aloud and/or bedtime story.

What's in that Egg? A Book about Life Cycles, by Becky Baines. (Illus.; A Zig-Zag Book.) National Geographic, 2009. 32pp.

The National Geographic Society’s kids’ book What’s in That Egg? by Becky Baines, is an opportunity for parents and teachers to share science and nature with young children. This is a read-aloud picture book. Its vocabulary is too high level for young children to read on their own. Instead, the book might be most effective if parents or teachers and children talked about the topics while they are reading the book together.

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999 Frogs Wake Up, by Ken Kimura. (Illus. by Yasunari Murakami). NorthSouth Books, 2013. 48 pp.

It’s springtime in the swamp and, 999 little frogs are the first to wake up. One by one they wake up the other animals in the swamp, until they discover a giant snake, and decide to let him stay asleep, with a little help from their friends This is a sequel to Kimura and Murakami’s equally delightful 999 Tadpoles.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms, by Julia Rawlinson. (Illus. by Tiphanie Beeke) Greenwillow Books, 2009. 32 pp.

This may be the perfect book for spring, 2015. Fletcher the Fox is very excited for his first spting. But while he is frolicking among the blooming flowers, he thinks he sees snowflakes! He runs to warn the other animals that winter is not over, but they surprise him with a revelation that makes everything okay!

The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss. (Illus.by Marc Simont.) Harper Collins, 1989. 36 pp.

In this Caldecott Honor book, the sleeping forest animals awaken from their long winter naps to rediscover the joys of the spring season. Originally published in 1949, the book is still available as a paperback with the original black-and-white illustrations.

Home for a Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown. (Illus. by Garth Williams). Golden Books, 2015. 24 pp.

This is a new edition of a family favorite since 1956 by the author of Goodnight Moon. Back in print as a Little Golden Book Classic, this sweet story of a bunny in search of a perfect home for spring is a perfect seasonal bedtime story.

Hurray for Spring! by Patricia Hubbell. Cooper Square Publishing, 2005. 32 pp.

This book follows a young boy enjoying everything the season has to offer, including swinging in the playground, splashing in puddles, birdwatching, and picking berries. His story is told in rhyming text that begs to be read aloud!

Lola Plants a Garden, by Anna McQuinn. (Illus. by Rosalind Beardshaw). Charlesbridge, 2014. 28 pp.

Part of the author’s acclaimed series featuring the curious and library-loving Lola, this book follows the little girl as she is inspired to grow a garden by a book of poetry. She carefully researchers what she needs to know to plant a successful flower garden by finding books at her library and using what she learns to plant and nurture seeds that grown into beautiful flowers that she can enjoy with her friends.

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Poppleton in Spring, by Cynthia Rylant. (Illus. by Mark Teague) Scholastic, 2009. 32 pp.

In this installment of the popular pig’s adventures, Poppleton experiences the season in three related tales. Readers follow along as he tries to do some spring cleaning, shop for a bicycle and camp out in his back yard accompanied by his crew of silly friends.

The Rain Came Down, by David Shannon. Blue Sky Press, 2000. 32 pp.

An unexpected downpour transforms a sunny day into a grumpy one. The book looks at a series of people as they act out their bad moods until the rain stops and friends and neighbors let go of their grumpiness and return to their better natures. This is a perfect book to read to restless children trapped indoors on a gloomy spring day!

Spring is Here, by Will Hillenbrand. Holiday House, 2011. 32 pp.

This is a good buddy tale that also teaches about hibernation. Mole is excited that spring has arrived and he wants to share it with his good friend Bear. But Bear is still sleeping. Kids will love to read about the delightful ways that Mole tries to wake up his friend so that they can enjoy spring together.

Adorable mixed media illustrations that blend perfectly with the charming text make this an idea read aloud.

Whose Garden is It?, by Mary Ann Hoberman. (Illus. by Jane Dyer. Harcourt, 2006. 40 pp.

The gardener says the garden belongs to him. But the woodchuck insists that it's his. And so do the rabbit, the butterfly, the squash bug, and the bumblebee. Even the tiny seeds and whistling weeds think the garden just couldn't grow without them. As they stroll through the exquisite plants and flowers, Mrs. McGee and her child listen and wonder: Whose garden is it? Children's book luminaries Mary Ann Hoberman and Jane Dyer reveal the secrets of a glorious garden in this beautiful and poetic rhyming read-aloud.